Microsoft has begun development on
next-generation Internet software, code-named 'Mars', for its MSN online
service. Secretly in the works for months, Microsoft refused to
acknowledge the existence of Mars until ZDNet's John C. Dvorak announced
the software in a recent
column. BetaNews and ActiveWin
have combined efforts to give you an inside look at the new software.

Over the last few months, Mars has been
the subject of many false rumors due to confusion surrounding the
software's purpose after it was initially announced on ActiveWin. Many
people assumed it to be the upcoming Internet Explorer 5.5, Dial Up
Networking add-ons, or even a new user interface technology for Windows.
However, Microsoft representatives spoke to BetaNews and cleared the air
this week, stating "Mars is a codename for a project designed to
simplify and enhance the Internet experience for MSN users." When
asked for further information regarding features and release dates,
Microsoft told BetaNews and ActiveWin, "It is too early to give
details, but we look forward to doing so soon."

Mars is best described as client software
for MSN Internet Access, much like AOL offers. Other than slight updates
and playing version catch-up with AOL, Mars will be Microsoft's first real
software for the service since MSN 2.5 hit the streets back in 1997. In
fact, Mars closely resembles MSN Program Viewer 2.0, from the days of MSN
Shows. The program viewer was primarily a Web browser powered by an
Internet Explorer software engine, with an MSN service-oriented interface,
described by users simply as "IE with different menus and
graphics."

This move comes as no surprise to those
following the IT industry. With MSN losing as many users per day as it was
gaining, and AOL touting 12 times as many members, Microsoft launched a
million dollar ad campaign to promote the service last week. The only next
logical step is to recreate what has made AOL so popular - the software.
But has Microsoft successfully done the job with Mars?

Mars opens with a simple login screen
asking the user to click their picture to sign on. Boasting the new
"friendly" MSN butterfly, the screen looks like something you
would see in WebTV, giving a feeling of clear readability and simplicity.
Unfortunately, as Dvorak so boldy
states, the feeling quickly disappears.

The following 'Welcome' screen
demonstrates the first thing the user will see when logged into the
service. It is both colorful and cluttered, sticking everything from
instant messages to the Windows Media Player all on one page. While this
may not be too confusing to the experienced user, the login screen seemed
to target computer beginners who would not feel comfortable using the
current Mars Welcome screen.

The Welcome screen also shows the first
five online buddies from the MSN Messenger Service, however users have to
open the full program to see them all, wasting space and defeating the
purpose of including them on the welcome screen in the first place.

The main part of the screen 'folds up'
when viewing a Web page, as shown in the following screen shot. Despite
taking up space that could be utilized for browsing the Web, the channel
bar to the right remains on-screen at all times. As Dvorak told BetaNews,
"This makes the desktop perpetually look as if you had one of those
free PCs where you are inundated with ads and pitches. Only this PC isn't
free!"

Whether MSN Mars will be released as MSN
Internet Access 6.0 is yet to be seen, but with version 5.1 debuting next
month for Windows 2000 users, there is a strong chance Microsoft has
something planned for the next big release.

Perhaps even more intriguing is the
possibility that the technology behind Mars will be incorporated into
Microsoft's future operating systems. The now canned Neptune, which made
its first and only appearance to testers late last year, contains many
similarities to MSN Mars (Shown in the bottom picture). For example, the
HTML-based Neptune startup screen looks strikingly like the one for MSN
Mars.

All in all, Mars is a step in the right
direction for the software giant, but will endure a long development phase
if it is to compete with the likes of AOL. A Microsoft spokesperson told
BetaNews and ActiveWin, "the early prototype will massively
change."